THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 26, 1995 TAG: 9510260597
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
The University of Virginia football team won't be alone in facing a mammoth challenge next Thursday when it takes on No. 1-ranked Florida State in Charlottesville.
Thousands of Virginia fans will have problems finding places to park.
It will be the first Thursday night football game ever at Scott Stadium, and university and community leaders have been working since last spring on a plan to accommodate it.
Fans will not be allowed to park at University Hall because of regularly scheduled activities there, and lots for permit-holders around the stadium will not open until 5 p.m.
Fans without permits are advised to park at the Fontaine Research Park off Fontaine Avenue, where free bus shuttles will be available to the stadium.
Tickets are not available for the 8 p.m. game, which will be televised by ESPN.
OPEN DATES: Virginia and Florida State have open dates this weekend, and both coaches say they need them.
``We are the only college team in America that has played nine straight games, and we need a break,'' Virginia coach George Welsh said.
This will be Florida State's second open weekend in five weeks, but coach Bobby Bowden said it comes at a good time.
``We got beat up pretty good in the Georgia Tech game last Saturday, so it will allow our players to get over their bumps and bruises,'' Bowden said.
The Seminoles got so thin at safety in the Tech game that Hampton's Shawn Hamlet, recovering from arthroscopic surgery, was ordered to dress at halftime and play in the second half.
``We had the doctor's permission to use him if we had to, but we had wanted to save him for the Virginia game,'' Bowden said.
NOT TAKING SIDES: Heisman Trophy voters who are having trouble deciding between Florida State's dynamic duo, quarterback Danny Kanell and tailback Warrick Dunn, will get no help from Bowden.
He has told the school's sports information department not to campaign for either player. Bowden said he believes the Seminoles are on television enough that voters can see for themselves.
RECRUITING NOTE: Cavaliers coach George Welsh doesn't seem upset that Penn State has commitments from four of his state's top prospects.
``The ones we really want have not committed anywhere, and we think we are close to several,'' Welsh said.
BIG GAME: Two teams on the rise, Clemson and Georgia Tech, play in a regionally televised game Saturday, and the winner could be on track to a bowl game. Both are 3-2 in the league, 4-3 overall.
Tech ranks No. 1 nationally in rushing defense, and Clemson is No. 8 in rushing offense.
``It looks like two bulls (are) getting ready to collide,'' Clemson coach Tommy West said.
Clemson quarterback Nealon Greene is nursing a sprained ankle that sidelined him during the second half of last Saturday's win over Maryland.
ON THE FLIP SIDE: Duke and Wake Forest have their best chance for a league win when they play each other Saturday in Durham. Both have 0-5 conference records.
Despite falling flat from last year's 8-4 bowl season, Duke coach Fred Goldsmith said he isn't worried that some impressive recruits who had expressed interest in the Blue Devils might head elsewhere.
``Some of our top recruits and others already committed to us are still sounding positive,'' Goldsmith said.
MARYLAND QBs: Quarterback Brian Cummings' inability to put a point on the scoreboard in last week's 17-0 loss to Clemson didn't affect his starting status.
Cummings again gets the nod over Scott Milanovich for Saturday's game at Louisville.
After being shut out by Clemson for the third consecutive year, coach Mark Duffner had a one-word reaction: ``Unbelievable.''
TOP DRAW: The Clemson Tigers still are the top cats in Memorial Stadium despite sharing their facility this season with the NFL's Carolina Panthers. Clemson is averaging 75,125 fans per game; the Panthers are averaging 53,059.
OH, BROTHER: The Smith brothers - Clemson's Emory and the Dallas Cowboys' Emmitt, are the nation's top brother scoring act with 132 points between them.
Emory has nine touchdowns for the Tigers, while Emmitt leads the NFL with 13.
Both Smiths will be in Atlanta this weekend: the Cowboys play the Falcons and the Tigers play Georgia Tech. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
FSU's Kanell, left, and Dunn. Can't decide who's more
Heisman-worthy? Don't expect help from coach Bobby Bowden.
QB Brian Cummings will start for Maryland this week at Louisville.
Clemson's Emory Smith...
by CNB